Cracked Radiator

[S13FX]

Hey guys I have a question. I already have all my parts for my KAE-T, but here is my concern. The other day when I floored it on the high way my old radiator just blew. It like got a crack or a hole in it, somewhere in the middle facing the engine. I made it home with out overheating at all, cause the hole wasnt that big and the stream was spraying towards my clutch fan so needles to say my whole engine bay got a taste of coolent.

My question is, Could the radiator have just cracked cause its a 16 year old radiator, or could there be other reasons for it to crack? Also I was having problems before, during winter with the car heating up properly cause I had a bad thermostat and Im thinking thats what might have put extra strain on it. And after I fixed it the radiator might have been already shot. Also my old radiator cap was leaking I put a new one on and the leak stope but this happend hehe. I just don't want to put my new radiator on and have the same thing happen.

P.S what kind of radiator is everyone running on thier KAE-T's ? Thank you in advance.

[teddy]

More than likely it cracked just because it is 16 years old. If you've got a new thermostat, new cap, properly working water pump, then you should have absolutely no reason to worry about breaking a new radiator. I'd recommend a copper koyo. They're inexpensive and work well.

[jamied311]

I'd recommend a copper koyo. They're inexpensive and work well.

yea... the same thing happened to me, just get a koyo!

[TheOne]

yeah they tend to crack cause of bein old, it happened to my brother's stock 95 auto 240sx, the top plastic just cracked.

[S13FX]

Will this one work

http://www.store.yahoo.com/pha....html

or do I have to get a specific one for a KAE?

[teddy]

No, that one is for an sr20. The ka24 radiators have both coolant ports on the same side whereas the sr20 has one on each side.

Well, you could use an sr20 radiator, you'd just have to route the top coolant hose across to the other side to your thermostat housing.

I found quite a few oem radiators on ebay for about 100 bucks or so.

[Florida240sx]

All 3 of my 240's cracked their radiators. 89 hatch 6months ago, 93 hatch 1 week later, and 93 vert cracked 2 yrs ago. All cracked on the top.

[chmercer]

you got a crack in one of the tubes? not in the plastic end tank? thats odd.

[Florida240sx]

My 93 hatch. Cracked on top of the radiator. When I removed the hose. The whole nipple came with it.......

[S13FX]

you got a crack in one of the tubes? not in the plastic end tank? thats odd.

Yah thats why i was kind of curious. I have heard though that if you have history of Thermostat problems that is a possibility though. In anycase I have ordered a brand new Toyo for my KA with some 97 altima dual Efans so im just going to do the whole conversion with a manul switch on the larger fan .

[S14tat]

the tubes could crack if the radiator fluid was barely ever changed in its 16 year live span. it probrably had a crap load of rust build up in there.